the administration will endorse one of the rebel groups that is now fighting to overthrow bashar al- assad. who are these new american allies? clarissa ward found their leader in brussels. >> reporter: moaz al-khatib is the man chosen to lead a newly formed coalition of syria's opposition groups. what does it mean to be recognized by the u.s.? "the u.s. administration has big influence globally" he told us. "a step like that would pull the rug from under the regime on all levels: politically, economically, and militarily." the damascus-born cleric has long been an outspoken critic of the syrian government. he's been jailed several times since the uprising began. in july, he finally fled to cairo. now he travels the world asking for international support for syria's opposition. do you feel that the international community has done enough to help syria? >> not at all. >> reporter: "the international community fell short in its support to the syrian people" he said. "but it's starting to wake up now." so far, though, the u.s. has refused to arm the rebels because of concerns about the rising